In 1718, the notorious pirate Blackbeard lost his flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, when it ran aground in Beaufort Inlet. For more than 270 years, it was hidden by water and sand – a mystery to archeologists around the world.

In 1996, private company Intersal, Inc. discovered the shipwreck. The Museum became the official repository for all Queen Anne’s Revenge artifacts and has offered an interactive and permanent exhibit which opened in 2011.

Now Blackbeard and his crew sail again in history, artifacts, interactive features and legends.

Queen Anne's Revenge was a home, office, weapon, vault, and more for the pirate Blackbeard and his crew.

Three hundred years later her artifacts reveal truths about the pirates of the Golden Age.

Learn how Blackbeard became a legend and how North Carolina's economy, geography, and politics of the time created a "perfect storm" for piracy. Were the pirates and government in cahoots? How do we know this wreck is actually the Queen Anne's Revenge? Where is all the treasure? This exhibit answers all these questions and more.

View the weapons a pirate ship would likely carry including cannons and personal weapons.

See how nautical archaeologists have mapped out the underwater site and learn about the conservation methods necessary to put these fragile artifacts on display.

Volunteers are needed for the great times at the Maritime Museums. Share your love of history, culture and North Carolina's well-loved coast. Each Museum offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, from working with children to helping with events.